An Arizona senator and recent candidate to become Kamala Harris' running mate told CNN on Monday it's "really unfortunate" that news outlets must spend resources debunking right-wing conspiracy theories as Republican lawmakers in recent days suggested Haitian immigrants are eating ducks and pets.
Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly joined "OutFront" with Erin Burnett on Monday evening and was asked about Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance's post on X that repeated the theory.
"Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio. Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn't be in this country. Where is our border czar?"
Vance's claim echoed similar comments from Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), who on Monday warned: "They're in the park. Grabbing up ducks. By the neck. And eatin 'em."
Burnett noted that a Facebook post that appeared to be the source of all the viral claims cited "somebody's neighbor's daughter's friend."
A spokesperson for the city of Springfield, Ohio, told CNN there was nothing to the rumor.
"There have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community," Karen Graves, strategic engagement manner for the city, told CNN in a statement.
Kelly told Burnett he found it "really unfortunate that you and the team at CNN and all these other networks have to spend all this time chasing stuff down. I think it highlights that J.D. Vance [and] the Trump campaign, they don't want to be talking about the issues that the American people care about."
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That includes, he said, the cost of prescription drugs — an item flagged in the GOP playbook Project 2025 as one to overturn that lowered prices for seniors.
"All those things that the American people care about, they're not focused on," he said. "They're just focused on rumors and made-up stories."
Burnett then played a clip of Trump over the weekend demanding the country "stop the cheating" and asked Kelly if he believes Trump is making an "empty threat" to reject the results of the election should he lose.
"No. I mean his threats were not empty in 2020. I was there in the Senate chamber when he sent the mob up to Capitol Hill to change the outcome of a free and fair election. Something unprecedented in our country's history. So no I take his threats very seriously," said Kelly.
Kelly pointed again to Project 2025, the playbook Trump has distanced himself from despite many of his own staffers having helped create it, which calls for replacing a large segment of the federal workforce with Trump loyalists.
"If you don't agree with him on what's happened here in the 2024 election, then he says he's willing to send you to jail or prosecute you for just disagreeing with the former president," he said.
Watch the clip below or at this link.